Improvement in music-leaf turners



vwQELLls.-

' Music Leaf Turne-rs.

Patented july 21,1874'.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEo VILLIAM ELLIS, OF COLUMBIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN MUSIC-LEAF TURNERS.

Speeiication forming part of Letters Patent No. 153,162, dated July 21, 1874; application filed June 16, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

13e it known that 1, WILLIAM ELLIS, of Columbia, in the county of Lancaster and State ot Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Music-Leaf Turner, of which the following is a specication, reference being had to the accompanying drawing termin g a part of the same.

This invention relates to a class of devices for turning sheets or leaves ot' music on pianos, or the like, being provided with long` and spring-jointed lingers, so as to retain a better hold on the sheet or leaf in turning, and yet to permit the fingers to fall ott' when turned, so as not to obstruct the music. The whole is mounted on. a detachable base, in combination with. a ixed key-board, to allow the instrument to be shut down, and made applicable for attachment without cutting or impairing the instrument.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view ofthe apparatus, showing one arm with its 1in ger as when. under the sheet or leaf, the other three arms disengaged, and the 'lingers thrown ott' the sheet. Fig. 2 is a side elevation ol' a modiiied key and appliances. Fig. 3 shows an extra rack and mode of application to a piano. Fig. 4 shows a part of an arm and the ringer, the tension of the springaction being made adjustable. Fie'. 5 illustrates one ofthe arms, coiled spring, and position of the lingers when ready to turn, and another after having turned the sheet or leat' of music.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

The key-board or plate B is made to fit in between the raised ledge and ordinary rack attached to pianos. This plate has aportion cut out for the reception ot a plate, A, which has` pivotbearings on the outer lower edges, so that Awhen the one is inserted into a perforation made for its reception the outer pivot falls into a notched bearing covered with a turn-plate, b, to conine it. An ordinary prop is, or may be,

used on the inner edge (not shown) to support the plate A in an inclined position, as shown in Fig. 1. The key-plate B has bearings G for the keys Il. The arm or leverFmay be widened at their terminus, as shown, or notched to receive the end ot' the leverE, so as to bein con- This lever E is held on a pivot in a-slottact.

ted post, (l. It has a hook, D, at right angles with its stem, supported on the inclined plate A, which again supports the posts O, with their pivot-rod passing through the ends of the arms K. There is a slotted guide-support, N, to hold or prevent lateral motion in the arms. There is also, further, a coiled spring, n, so attached to the end of the arms l as to throw them back as soon as disengaged from the hookconnection when turned forward to bring the sheetupon the finger. Each arm K is provided with a hook, D', and a jointed 1in ger, L M, with a spring, S, bearing on one side of said lin ger.

The operation is very simple, as is the whole apparatus when properly made and understood.

It may be proper to use a rack, t, made adjustable at r, to incline it more or less, provided with a ledge, m, to support the music, as in Fig. 3. A portion of this ledge may be wider, to aid in arresting the finger, and cause it to turn over. XVhether one, two, four, or more such arms and lingers are used is not material. These fingers, it will be seen, have the spring S bearing on the upper side when the hooks D l) are united, so as to hold the arms and iin gers down under the leaves at their proper places.

To turn the leaf it is only necessary to press upon the button I'I. This raises the elbowlever, which is in contact with the key-lever, disengages the hook, when the coiled spring n, acting on or over the heel of the arm K, carries it half round, bringing the finger on top of the leaf turned over; but as that is the side on which the music is continued, it would' obstruct a portion of it, and, to prevent this, the open joint being now on top, the least check will throw it oli', as shown. Thus leaf after leaf may be turned in succession.

I am aware that in the patent No. 117,511, August 1, 1871, arms are used with short rigid ingers, cord, spring, frame, bell-crank, as well as a side plate, slots, or detachable plate, as shown and claimed 5 but such an arrangement I do not claim. My arrangement differs substantially from this and others heretofore known or used. Therefore That I claim as my invention, and desire to secure, is-

1. The combination ol' the lrey-llioard or plate B with its bearings G, knob or key H F, the 2. In combination with said arm or arms K, detachable supporting-plate A, provided with the hook D', and spring o1, the open-jointed elbowed lever and hook E D, slotted posts C, piece L, nger M, and spring S, substantially `guides N, posts O O, lever-arms K, with their as and for the purpose mentioned.

hooks D and springs oz.,joi11ted spring-fingers 'HAM ELLIS. L S M, :111 combined and arranged to operaie Yitnesses: substantially in the manner and for the pnr- SAML. EVANS,

pose set forth.

JAMES DoNoGHIJR. 

